Faucet



May 13, 1952 E. w. LOWE ET Al.

FAUCET 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Dec. 29, 1945 Figi?.

Eor/ h/ owe May 13, 1952 E. w. Lowe: ETAL 2,596,419

FAUCET Filed Dec. 29, 1945 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 i 10o 104 ,o2

Fig. 5

A 111* 1 jjj) Flg Zm/emons Patentecl May 1.3, 1:9523

UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE TAUCET iEarl W. Lowe, Decatur, Ill., and Emmett M. Reedy, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Mueller Co., Decatur, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 'Application December 29, 1945,'seia1`Noicevgsec 6 Claims. .1

The presentnve'ntion'relates to 'faucets 'such as those employe'din-ordinary house-hold water lines. The principal `object of the invention is to providea faucet of simple and durable construction which may be conveniently installed andfhave its wearing parts replaced 'with facility.

An important object of `the invention is'to provide a faucet of construction wherein the valve member is -positivelyretainedon its seat without injuryto Vthesealingsurfaces of the valve-oi` seat, and inwhich "the eifective Vengagement cf the valve l-memberwith is seat is not impaired by thermal expansionand contraction of the valve stem.

A further object of the invention is to provide a faucet` having an arrangement of packing around the'valve stem, whichforms an effective seal, the compressiono'f the packing being increased at times 'when a tighter seal is desirable, such `as when .the valve is Aopen and water is `'rushing through thefaucet.

In'th'e drawings, `which illustrate preferred and simplified formsof `the invention:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe faucet.

Figure 2 is a similar partial vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention, wherein the valve stem is turned by a fourarm handle.

Figure V3 is a horizontal `sectional view taken along the line `3---3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4-isiaip1an view of thelspecial washer shown in'Figure` 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinalisectional view of a faucet showinga simpliedform of the invention.

`Figurefi isapartial longitudinal sectional view of a faucet of the samesimplified form, having a different packing arrangement for the valve stem, and

j Figure 'I is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Figure l, with the valvestem removed to simplify the view.

kAn importantfcharacterstic of the invention is a faucet construction wherein the valve member is held on its seatbymeans other than pressure imposed by the screw threads which move the valve member toward `and from its seat. In the case of a valve member which is moved to its seat by threads on'the valve member cooperating with threads on an operatingstem or onthe body of the faucet, there is a tendency to jam the valve by-closing it too tightly, thus injuring the packing where the valve seats. This condition becomes more aggravated as lthe use of the valve is continued. In the case of valves in common use, andi-particularly when `used in hot water lines,

there is atenden'cy'for the `valve memberto .become displaced from its seat after having been closed, due to contraction of'the valve stem'as the metal cools after the water is shut off. The householder usually -gives the handle an extra turn to retain the valve on its seat with resulting injury to the valve packing'.

In the `prior art, various m'eans'have been Vemployed to improve Athe above described conditions, Springs have been provided between the valve member and a member connected with the body of the faucet to retain the'valve member on its seat by pressure of thespring rather than by pressure ekerted'by the screw threadswliich move the valve member toward and from its seat. This result is usually accomplished by a lost motion arrangement of the `valve stem with'respect to the body of the faucet, as for instance-in the case of Patent 2,210,375,1Vlueller, August 6, 1940. Such lost motion arrangements impair `the ithoroughness of the seal between the valve stein and body, and annoying leakage, if the parts are not perfectly made, may result, requiring adjustments of the valve and replacement ofithe packing more frequently than is convenient.

In the present invention, we have accomplished the purposes referred to by providing a valve member with screw threads andlgrooves which engage cooperating screw threads 3and grooves within the body, the width of the threads being substantially less than the `width of the `grc'zoves with which they cooperate, thereby permittingthe usual spring to retain the valve member on its seat solely by spring pressure. `In` connection `.with the preferred form of the invention, and by reason of the above mentioned'improvementsa superior packing arrangementis possible. We have provided packing whichmaintains 'a constant and effective seal but which'is automatically tightened when the water is turned on, the arrangement making possible convenient replacement of `the wearing parts of the packing by one unskilled in valve construction and operation.

-In Figure 1, the faucet `isshown -havihga hole low body I0 with the usual inlet `l2 rand an cute let or spigot portion M, there `being a valveseat I6 shown as removable, defining a fluidwaybetween the inletand theoutlet. @pposite the valve seat 16, the body has `a tubular extension as at I1 forming achamber i8 in axialfalig'nm'entwith the valve seat, in which chamber the valve member and other working parts to be described are positioned foroperation.

The valve member 'or sleeve 28 is a `hollow plunger preferably `hexagonal inform `with its coi'-` hers sildably fitting within longitudinal grooves 2| in the walls of the chamber i8, so that the valve member may be translated axially from and toward its seat without being rotated around its axis.

The interior walls 22 ci the valve member are provided with suitable threads and grooves between the threads. These threads and grooves cooperate with threads and grooves integral with a valve stem 24, so that when the valve stem is turned, the valve member is moved from and toward its seat in a manner well known in the art. An opening 25 may be provided from the interior of the valve member for drainage purposes.

The upper end of chamber i3 and of the faucet body is closed by atop cap or bonnet 26 which is threaded onto the extension l1 ofthe faucet. The bonnet 26 has a central longitudinal opening 28 therethrough, also in axial alignment with the valve seat. for the purpose of passing the valve stem 24. The outer face or end of the bonnet is suitably recessed or countersunk to a substantial depth as at 30, to receive packing around the valve stem 24, and suitable packing is provided in this recess, such as an inner ring of compressible material 32 and one or more outer washers 34 of metal or the like, the outer washer 34 extending a substantial distance beyond the outer face of the bonnet 2S, so that the packing may be compressed as hereinafter described. The packing recess 3l] preferably comprises a cylindrical outer portion to receive the metal washer or washers 34, and a lower portion which has its wall tapering toward the stem, so that the packing 32 can be tightly pressed toward and around the stem upon application of pressure as referred to later.

The interior threads 40 of the valve member 2i) are of substantially less width, in cross section, than the corresponding grooves i2 on the exterior of the valve stem with which they cooperate, and similarly, the threads 44 on the valvel stem are of substantially less width than the grooves 46 on the interior of the valve member With which they cooperate. VStated in another way, the threads on each of the cooperating parts are of the same width but are of substantially less width than the grooves on the same parts. Y

When the valve member 29 is being moved toward its seat, and at the time it initially touches its seat to shut olf flow of fluid from the faucet,V the valve member is constantly retained in its innermost position relative to its stem 24 by a spring U, which surrounds the valve stem. This spring is of a relatively heavy construction, and is under constant compression between the outer end of the valve member 26 and the inner face of the bonnet 26. That is to say, the threads 4) on the valve vmember are constantly retained in the lower part of the corresponding grooves on the stem 42, with the lower face of each thread 40 in constant engagement with the upperl face of one of the threads 44 of the valve stem, leaving a'gap between the upper face of each Y thread 40 and the lower face of each thread d4.

further rotation of the valve stem in this direction will not continue the translation of valve member, as the latter is restrained by the valve seat I6, but any slight continued rotation of the valve stem will remove the inner faces of the threads 40 from engagement with the outer faces of the threads 4d, thus freeing the valve member from positive influence of the valve stem, and causing it to be retained on its seat solely by the pressure exerted by the spring 50. It will be observed that there is no rotation of the valve member as it engages its seat, thus preventing damage to the valve packing.

As previously mentioned, the construction permits use of more effective packing where the valve stem passes through the valve body, as the valve stem is mounted for rotation only, and has no translational or lost motion movement with respect to the body. The outer ends of the threads 44 on the valve stem terminate in a circular shoulder 52 having an outer face which is at right angles to the longitudinal axis to the valve stem. A suitable washer 54, of metal or the like, is provided encircling the valve stem between the shoulder 52 and the inner wall of the bonnet. This arrangement prevents outward relative movement of the valve stem with respec to the faucet body. I

The valve stem terminates at its outer end in a longitudinally serrated portion 56 which engage corresponding serrations in a cavity 58 in the inner end of an operating handle 60, as is well known in the art,l the handle being further retained on the valve stem by a screw 62. Below its serrated portion, but beyond the outer face of the bonnet 24 when the parts are in assembled relation, the valve stem has a reduced channel or groove 64 whose outer face forms a thrust shoulder 66. Positioned in the groove 64 is a removable collar in the form of a washer 68 preferably made of brass. This washer is of diameter sufflciently greater than that of the stem 24 to extend outwardly and rest against the outer face of the packing ring 34.

With this arrangement, and when the valve member is moved from its seat by proper rotation of handle 6U, inward pressure is exerted on the valve stem 24 by the spring 50 through the valve member 2i) (threads 4i] of the latter bearing against the inner Walls of threads 44 of the valve stem) and the inward pressure on the valve stem is imparted to the washer 68 by the thrust shoulder E6. This pressure is further transferred to the washers 34 which in turn compressthe packing 32 against the stem 24 adjacent the opening 28. It will be apparent that an effective seal is thus provided at all times, due to theY fact that there is no relative or lost motion movement of the valve stem 24 with respect to the faucet body. Moreover, when the valve member is moved from its seat, and the pressure of the spring 5() is exerted inwardly on the valve stem through the valve member 2U, the pressure in turn exerted on the packing 32 is increased, and this pressure increases as the valve member is moved from its seat. As water rushes through the faucet in increasing volume and with increased pressure, the packing around the stem is correspondingly strengthened or tightened.

The washer 63 is preferably of design as shown in Figure 4. It is circular in its outer contour and around its interior opening for substantially a semi-circle, but the interior opening is formed into a substantially archshape by cuts 10 which are tangential to the interior circular portion of the washer. 'L'Ihccross "dimension between 'fthe walls leading to the central-opening'is preferably slightly smaller lthan the diameter of 'the groove AIl of the valve stem, vin order that vthe washer may Ibe snapped into the groove "to fbe there retained. This is particularly desirable when the faucet is so A'arranged that the -`valve stern eiitfends Ain Va horiaont'al rather than fin 'the vertical direction shownin Figure 1. The 4iace of the inner end of the handle 'member 6D is counterb'ored 'as at 12,- forrning va chamber-having Va Pskir't lportion I4 which closely 'ts :around thewash'er to Vprotectand' conceal the same.

It will `:be apparent that the packing arri-angement fis lchara"cterized by 'constant effectiveness and durability. On the Vother hand, it'1xi'1" ayA be changed-by a householder with/only simple iinstiitins necessary. `All that Jis lredui'red "is 'to removeiscrew 62 handle 6I) and thereafter slip offa'ndreplace the Ushaped Washer. AThe packing `-`vin the recess 30 'can also bereplacedat this time. vThe construction is also convenient when making initial installations, i-toftenbeing the 4case -that the faucets and vvalvesterns 'are installedpriorto the attachment of their handles, andithe latter may b e applied and the packing assembly' completed with facility in' amanner ap.. parent from the abovedescription.

-lllgurezl shows a 'slightly modiiied 'construction oi the'preferred form ofthe inventionwherein afou'rlarmhandle 'I6 is used in place of the single arm handle 60. Thislhandle is similarly-inte riorly'serrated to 'engage the serratio'ns 56 on the end of the valve stem, but thehandle hasl an integral sleeve A'lexteriorly threaded to a Aseparate sleeve 80 which in turn has :a depending skirt 82 serving to protect and conceal the Ushaped washer 68 in the manner as previously described. Other than the above, the construction and operation of the arrangement of vFigure 2 is identical with that described inconnection With Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 5, a simpliiied forxnof the 'invention is disclosed wherein the valve member 9D vitself carries'the threads 92 and grooves 94 which cooperate with threads 96 and grooves 99 within the chamber formed by the valve body. More specifically, the threads 96 and grooves 98 are 4formed on the inner wall of the faucet body. In this arrangement, the valve member 99 is in;- tegrally Connected with a valve'stem IDI) which passes through an opening in the bonnet |02 and is serrated at its outer end for purposes previously described. The interior of the body 'adjacent its opening 4is filled "with a compressible packing material |04 retained by a springwasher |06 carried between the bonnet and the valve body. Thispacking is under the constantpressure of aspring I08 which is compressed between thewasher N35-andthe outer face of the valve bodyvIn Figure 6, a similar arrangement is disclosed, differing Vonly in the manner inwhich the packing-is positioned in the inner end-of the bonnet.

In this embodiment, the packing III) is retained .1.

by iai-friction washer -I-I2 which extends "around the valve stern IIlIl, and the packing is compressed as previously described by a spring I I4.

In these arrangements, substantially the same cooperating thread and groove arrangement is provided. That is. the threads 92 are of substantially less Width than the grooves 98 in the Wall `of the faucet chamber in which they move,

whereas the threads 96 of the chamber are of substantially less Width than the grooves 94 on thevalve'nimb'er with which'theyfcopeiat. reason Voi' the *spring `=I U8 vbetween the 'Louter end ofthe valve member-fand `the washers Illr I-I2, the Valve lfriernloer is constantly lurged toward 'its seat so that'threadsw are constantly` intheiixfrier partof the grooves 98. with their inner 'ffaes engaging the 'outer faces lof the `threads 96, ithus leaving a gap between "the 'outer faces 'of 'the threads '92 `iandthelinner faces of the threads 96. When the valve has fbeenmoved `inwardly 'err-` gagemexit'withitsseatas shownlin Figure 5,1m# therrotationiof the valvesten'ilin a"closing `iii-'1" s tion'will havethe effect of'dis'placing'fthe threads 92 "outwardly in Vgrooves 98 so 'that `the 1valve member is retained lonto its *sea-t 'Jsoiel-y b'y Lpe'ssure for :spring 10B. The advantages .previously described faire present lin this simplified embout# ment of the invention.

It will be apparent that 'We -havefprovided a faucet i of 1- simple -construction, 'yet Vwhich has acftion superiorto that of faucetsiof theprioi'art, particularly vin vthe -eiiectivenessof the fseting ofthe valve member withreduction inwear on the valvepackinjg, aswell asin the continuous effectivenessof the valve stein packing andfits increased i effectiveness to "meet the fneeds y'oi' iiicreased volume of nowof fluid.

-1..A `faucet Vcomprisin'g a body 'having 'an :ini ternal valve seat lfand a YVchamber in axial fallen-'- ment with said seat, a bonnet closing the outer end of vsaid chamber-having a valve Ysteinopening therethrough, arigid one piecevalve'mernber mounted for axial Amovement -infsaid chamber from and ltoward said seat and fhaving means -for restraining it against lateral 'movement 'and v"axial rotation therein, `a spring between lsaid bonnet and said valve member which -directly engages and urges the latter toward its seat, `a valve operating stem passing through the opening in said bonnet. means on said valve stem forsecuring same against any substantial vaxial'movement through said opening, said valve Imember having threads and grooves which "engage cooperating threads andf'g'roovesonsaid'stem toinove said valve membertoward'and from its seat upon rotation of `said stern, saidthreads beingof sub-V stantially less thickness Vthan the cooperating grooves in which they lmove, whereby said valve memberis capable of an independent "and substantial axial movement relative to said stem and toward said seat and maybe `hel'don :itss'ea't solely by the pressure exerted bysaid Spring.

"2. A faucet comprising ahollow body having an internalfvalve seat, a bonnet closing "one "end of said body and having a valve .stem opening therethrough, said bonnet having an outerpacking recess around said opening with .pac-king therein, 'a rotatable Vvalvelstem passing through said opening and 'a valve-member attached to the'inner end of rsaid stemand axially movable iromand toward said-seat, aspringin said body between said -bonnet 'and vsaid-valve member which urges said valverstem axially inwardlyand said valvernember towardits seatpafrernovable collar carried on said valve stem and for axial movement therewith and positioned outside of said bonnet to continuously engage the packing in said recess and compress same by the force of said spring when said valve is removed from its seat, and a handle attached to the outer end oi said valve stem to rotate same.

3. A faucet comprising a hollow body having an internal valve seat. a bonnet closing one end inner end of the said stem and axially movable from and toward said seat, a spring between said bonnet and said valve member which urges said valve stem axially inwardly and said valve member toward its seat, said valve stem having a reduced portion beyond said bonnet forming a thrust shoulder,and a removable U-shaped rigid Washerin saidreduced portion and axially movable with said stem which engages the packing in said groove and compresses same by the force of said spring when said valve is removed from its seat,and a handle attached to the outer end of said valve stem to rotate same.

4. A faucet comprising a hollow body having an internal valve seat, a bonnet closing one end of said body and having a valve stem opening therethrough, said bonnet having a packing recess around said opening with packing therein, a rotatable valve stem passing through said opening and a valve member attached to the inner end of said stem and axially movable from and toward said seat, a spring in saidv body between said bonnet and said valve member which urges said valve stem inwardly and said valve member toward its seat, a removable collar carried on said valve stem and for axial movement therewith and positioned outside of said bonnet which engages the packing in said recess and compresses same by the force of said spring when said valve is removed from its seat, and a handle attached to the outer end of said valve stem to rotate same, said handle having an interior cavity dened by a skirt of diameter to pass over the outer edge of said collar to protect and conceal the same.

5. A faucet comprising -a body having an internal valve seat and a chamber in axial alignment with said seat, a bonnet closing the outer end of said chamber having a valve stem opening therethrough, said bonnet having an outer packing groove around said opening with packing therein, a valve member mounted for axial movement in said chamber from and toward said seat but being restrained against axial rotation therein, a spring between said bonnet and said valve member which urges the latter toward its seat, a valve operating stem passing through the opening in said bonnet, cooperating threads and grooves on the inner end of said stem and on said valve member for moving the latter axially when said stem is turned, the threads on said stem and valve member being of substantially less thickness than the cooperating grooves in which they move so that said valve member may be held on its seat solely by pressure of said spring, means on said steml within said chamber for preventing outward movement of said stem with respect to the body, said stem having a reduced portion therein beyond said'bonnet forming a thrust shoulder, a removable U-shaped washer carried in said reduced portion and of diameter to engage the packing in the groove of the bonnet around said opening without contacting that portion of the body which surrounds said groove, Van operating handle secured to the outer end of said stem and -having a skirt of diameter to pass over the outer edge of said washer to protect and conceal the same, said spring tending to exert an inward force on said stem through said valve member so that said thrust shoulder presses said Washer against the packing with increasing force as said valve is moved from its seat.

6. A faucet comprising a body having an internal valve seat and an overlying hollow portion dening a chamber in axial alignment with said seat, a rigid one piece valve member mountedior axial movement in said chamber from and toward said seat, means for imparting axial movement to said valve member comprising a pair of concentric cylindrical walls arranged for rotation one with respect to the other in said chamber each having a single flight of engaging spiral threads and grooves, one of said walls being on said valve member and being axially movable therewith and the other of said walls being mounted in said chamber xed against axial movement therein, said threads on each of said walls being of substantially less thickness than the grooves on the other of said walls with which they mesh, whereby said valve member is capable of an independent and substantial axial movement toward said seat relative to said other of said walls, a bonnet closing the outer end of said chamber having a valve stem opening therethrough, a rotatable valve stem extending into said chamber through said opening for actuating said axial movement imparting means, means on said valve stem for securing same against any substantial axial movement through said opening, said valve stem having a coil spring surrounding same in said chamber which engages said bonnet at its outer end and directly engages said valve member at its inner end for urging said valve member in its independent movement toward said seat.

EARL W. LOWE, EMMETT M. REEDY.

REFERENCES CITED rllhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 267,733 Whittaker Nov. 21, 1882 515,810 Wrigley Mar. 6, 1894 596,232 Schmitt Dec. 28, 1897 745,027 Stone -Nov. 24, 1903 '750,881 Morris Feb. 2, 1904 952,508 Caldwell Mar. 22, 1910 1,281,496 Bovard Oct. 15, 1918 1,525,516 Smith Feb. 10, 1925 1,841,050 OStroske Jan. 12, 1932 2,210,375 'Mueller Aug. 6, 1940 2,273,784 Kahl Feb. 17, 1942 2,320,353 Ernst Jan. 1, 1943 2,351,211 Hodgson June 13, 1944 

